Can I keep chickens in Cedar Falls, IA?
Yes — Cedar Falls allows backyard chickens, up to 10 hens with a required permit/registration. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 25 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Cedar Falls Code Ch. 6, Art. VI, Div. 5 (Rear Yard Poultry), 6-301 to 6-308 (Ord. 2985, eff. 3-1-2021), verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 10 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Coop setback | 25 ft |
| Coop rules | Female poultry only, max 10 total. Land use permit AND poultry license required. Coop + attached run in rear yard; coop >=25 ft from a dwelling on adjoining property, >=2 ft from side/rear property line. Building permit if coop >=120 sq ft. Owner must reside on premises on a 'residential block.' |
| Code section | Cedar Falls Code Ch. 6, Art. VI, Div. 5 (Rear Yard Poultry), 6-301 to 6-308 (Ord. 2985, eff. 3-1-2021) |
Cedar Falls adopted a rear-yard poultry ordinance effective March 1, 2021 allowing female poultry only, up to ten total per residence. Keepers must obtain both a land use permit and a poultry license; the coop and run go in the rear yard, at least 25 feet from a neighbor's dwelling and 2 feet from side/rear lot lines. The owner must reside on the premises located on a residential block.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Cedar Falls?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Cedar Falls (Cedar Falls Code Ch. 6, Art. VI, Div. 5 (Rear Yard Poultry), 6-301 to 6-308 (Ord. 2985, eff. 3-1-2021)).
How many chickens can I keep in Cedar Falls?
Up to 10 hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Cedar Falls?
Yes — Cedar Falls requires a permit or registration before keeping chickens.
Are roosters allowed in Cedar Falls?
No — roosters are prohibited in Cedar Falls.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Cedar Falls?
25 feet minimum. Female poultry only, max 10 total. Land use permit AND poultry license required. Coop + attached run in rear yard; coop >=25 ft from a dwelling on adjoining property, >=2 ft from side/rear property line. Building permit if coop >=120 sq ft. Owner must reside on premises on a 'residential block.'
What law covers backyard chickens in Cedar Falls?
Cedar Falls Code Ch. 6, Art. VI, Div. 5 (Rear Yard Poultry), 6-301 to 6-308 (Ord. 2985, eff. 3-1-2021). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Cedar Falls Code Ch. 6, Art. VI, Div. 5 (Rear Yard Poultry), 6-301 to 6-308 (Ord. 2985, eff. 3-1-2021) — read the official code
“Sec. 6-303. Female poultry only; maximum number. Only poultry of female gender is allowed to be kept. No more than ten total poultry in any combination of species may be kept at a single residence, at any one time.” source
“Sec. 6-306. Prior to the keeping of any poultry, a poultry owner must obtain a land use permit for the poultry coop and poultry run from the zoning administrator or designee.” source
“Only poultry of female gender is allowed to be kept.” source
“No part of the poultry coop or poultry run shall be located within 25 feet of a dwelling located on an adjoining property; the poultry coop must be located at least two feet from any side or rear property line.” source
Last verified June 14, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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